It is almost down to Christmas Eve, and many of you would love some ideas for a few last minute gifts that are quick and easy to make.
Here are a few of my favorites:
Peppermint Bark: You will need a bag of milk chocolate chocolate chips, a bag of white chocolate chips, peppermint extract and about four or five regular sized organic candy canes if you can find organic. Unwrap the candy canes and put them in a ziploc bag before you start – crush them with a rolling pin. Preheat your oven to 250 degrees, and line a cookie sheet with a lid with parchment paper or wax paper. Spread the milk chocolate chocolate chips in an even layer in the pan and put in oven until soft enough to spread with a spatula (about five to ten minutes, watch them carefully!). Put in the refrigerator to cool for about twenty minutes. Melt the white chocolate chips in a double boiler (you may need a teaspoon of canola oil to make the white chocolate chips spreadable), stir in about 1/2 teaspoon of peppermint extract and some of the candy cane pieces. Spread over the milk chocolate layer, sprinkle the rest of the candy cane pieces on top and put in the refrigerator to cool. Break into uneven pieces and package for friends you love.
If you have a dehydrator (and I bought a nice one used), you could make grain free granola or coconut macaroons. Both make fabulous gifts! For my grain-free granola, I take an apple and mix it with about a cup and a half of dates in a food processor, then add salt, cinnamon, orange zest and the juice of a lemon. Then I take pecans, almonds, sunflower seeds and pumpkin seeds that have been pulsed in a food processor, mix them with the apple-date mixture and stir in a cup of dried cranberries. This can be dehydrated for about 8 hours and then packaged.
Easy to package is to make savory salt. This salt is divine on brown rice. There are many recipes on the Internet. The other easy last minute gift is bath salts.
Please share your favorite last-minute gifts below!
Many blessings, happy merriment,
Carrie
The Parenting Passageway 
Sugar scrubs are a great last minute gift! There are several recipes on the internet. I made a batch with white sugar, coconut oil, and peppermint extract, and another batch with white sugar, brown sugar, coconut oil, honey, and vanilla extract. Just scoop into a jar and tie a ribbon on the lid.
Felted wool balls for babies. Fun and relaxing to stitch up! I felted an old sweater and used different colored embroidery thread. Might put a couple of jingle bells inside with the stuffing. http://www.duofiberworks.com/journal/2009/11/9/felt-rainbow-ball-tutorial.html
We are making beeswax nativity sets for the grandparents that are pretty simple and quick.
Homemade lip balms, yarn ornaments (yarn dipped in glue, wrapped around the balloon and then popped after the glue dries – it leaves a beautiful, open globe that’s perfect to hang on the tree).
There are some good recipes floating around for slow cooker fudge that’s easy and mostly hands-free. Or, flavored oils/vinegears, tea blends.
I love the ideas above, though. Having some simple, last minute gift ideas handy can really help you feel a bit less panicky. 🙂
We’re making a few beeswax nativity sets. They’re simple and quick – you just need the molds and spare beeswax which I’m sure a lot of have on hand.
Or, hand rolled beeswax candles tied with a nice ribbon? (Or, using finger knitting practice!)
You can also easily make lip balms. I’ve seen a few slow-cooker fudge recipes floating around, too, that seem pretty hands-off and simple to make.
Other ideas: flavored oils/vinegar. Homemade Vanilla extract (or, a kit with all the ingredients). Hand blended teas. Hand milled soaps (grated castille soap + herbs, essential oils, etc), homemade bread tied in a nice dishtowel.
Wow! These are great ideas! They sound yummy too! Haven’t tried making them but will definitely try one of these days. Thanks for these tips and merry Christmas! 🙂
Soap on a rope! Good soap, goats milk or the sappo hill…drill hole in the middle with a screw, screw driver, ect. have children help by making a wool yarn twisted cord( you know the ones they learn in kindergarten, takes two people with a few or several strands of yarn twisting opposite direction) we even put a string of thicker hemp “rope” not too thick, in with the wool. The cord can be washed in hot water and dried first to felt or simple thread through the hole and tie and instruct user it will felt when used in the shower with hot water. Fun to fool with different lengths or colors of soap.
Such great ideas. And I love your peppermint bark recipe as well Carrie! Thank you. I’ve never made this before, but will be saving these ideas for next Christmas.
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